Furniture



D. H. MELBYE Jan. 12, 1965 FURNITURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1962 llll llll lllllillllll.

Inventor Dav id 31. Melbge United States Patent Oflice 3,164,848 Patented Jan. 12, 1965 3,164,848 F f: =lTURE David H. Melbye, 4513 W. 101st St, Oak Lawn, Ill. Filed Jul /'24, 1962, Se No. 212,050 6 Claims. (Cl. -8)

This invention relates to furniture, and, more particularly, to folding beds.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel folding bed.

Folding beds have heretofore been known the art. However, folding beds that have been heretofore known have commonly had several inherent disadvantages such as, for example, being complicated in construction and operation; being difficult to fold and unfold; being large and cumbersome in size; being uncomfortable to lie open; not being stable when erected; being weak in construction; or being difficult and expensive to produce commercially, or the like. It is an important object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.

In certain rooms used for sleeping quarters, such as, for example, in small bedrooms, in combination bedrooms and sleeping rooms, and in trailers, and the like, the problem of affording a comfortable, practical bed, while affording adequate living quarter space when the bed is not being used, is particularly acute. It is an important object of the present invention to enable this problem to be solved in an effective, novel and expeditious manner.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel folding bed which is particularly well adapted for use in house trailers, camping trailers, and the like.

A further object is to afford a novel folding bed which may be secured to a wall of the room in which it is used.

Yet another object is to afford a novel folding bed of the aforementioned type wherein the parts thereof are so constituted and arranged relative to each other that the bed may be quickly and easily folded and unfolded.

Another object is to afford a novel folding bed of the aforementioned type, which, when it is in folded position, is relatively small and compact, and may be disposed in closely adjacent relation to a wall of the room in which it is used.

Another object is to afford a novel folding bed of the aforementioned type whereinthe parts thereof are so constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner that when the bed is in its aforementioned folded position, it affords a novel and practical storage area for bedding, or bed rolls, and the like.

A further object is to afford a novel folding bed of the aforementioned type wherein the parts thereof are members '79 are disposed in substantially constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner effective to afford a practical, comfortable head support for a person lying on the bed. V

Another object is to afiord a novel folding bed of the aforementioned type wherein the parts are so constituted and arranged that it is insured that a person lying thereon will be supported free of any underlying hard surfaces.

A further object is to afford a novel folding bed of the aforementioned type which is practical and eflicient in construction and operation, and which may be readily and feconomically .produced' commercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. andthe principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthese principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as; desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings: q

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bed embodying the principles of the present invention, with the bed shown in erected position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view' taken substantially along the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the bed shown in FIG. 1, looking in the direction. of the arrows 3,.3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevati-onal view of the bed shown in FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows 44 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view, similar to FIG. 3, but with portions of the bed disposed in different position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the bedv shown in FIG. 1, but with the bed disposed in fully collapsed position; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 in FIG. 6.

A bed 1, embodying the principles of the present invention is shown in the drawings to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The bed 1 includes, in general, two person-supporting portions 2 and 3, which are movable relative to each other between a fully erected position, as shown in FIGS. 14, and a fully collapsed position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The person-supporting portion 2 includes an elongated, substantially rectangular-shaped frame 4, which includes two elongated, substantially straight, parallel side rails 5 and 6, and three elongated cross members or cross braces 7, 8, and 9. Each of the cross members 7-9 is substantially wider than it is thick, and includes a concave longitudinal edge 10. Each of the cross braces '7-9 extends between the side rails 5 and 6 and is hingedly connected thereto by a pair of hinges 11 and 12, 13, and 14, and 15 and 16, respectively, FIGS. 14.

The cross members'7-9 are pivotable upon the hinges 1116 relative to the side rails 5 and 6 between a fully erected position wherein they project substantially perpendicularly to the side rails 5 and 6, with the concave edges lflfacing generally toward the side rails 5 and 6, as shown in FIGS. 14, and a folded or collapsed position, such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein the cross uniplanar relation to each other, with the plane thereof disposed sub:- stantially parallel to the common plane of the side rails 5 and 6. I

The side rails 5 and 6 are identical in construction.

' The side 5 has four transverse faces 17, 18, 19, and 20.

The faces 18 and 20 are parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the faces 17 and 19 throughout their length. The faces 17 and 19 are parallel to each other throughout all of their length except at the respective end portions 21 and 22 thereof, the face 19 sloping toward the face 17 at both end portions 21 and 22, as shown in FIG. 4. The side rail 6 embodies four faces 23, 24, 25, and 26, which are constituted and arranged relative to each other in the same manner as the faces 17-20, respectively, of-theside rail 5, with the faces23. and 25 disposed in "uniplanar relation to the faces 17 and 19, respectively, and with the faces 24 and 26 disposed in parallel relation to the faces 18 and 20.

A flexible supporting member 27 made of suitable material such as, for example, canvas duck, extends beside rails and 6, respectively, by suitable means such as, for example, an adhesive or tacks, not shown. From the face 17 of the side rail 5, the flexible supporting member 27 extends across the faces 18 and 19 thereof, then across the space between the side rails 5 and 6, and then across the faces and 26 of the side rail 6 to the face 23 thereof, FIG. 2. The hinges 11-16 are secured to the faces 19 and 25 of the side rails 5 and 6, with the flexible supporting member 27 disposed between the hinges 11-16 and the side rails 5 and 6, so that the flexible supporting member 27 is also secured to the lower faces 19 and 25 of the side rails 5 and 6, respectively.

Three substantially straight elongated legs 36, 31, and 32 are secured to the cross members '7, 8, and 9, respectively, FIG. 4, and are movable therewith relative to the side rails 5 and 6. The legs 39-32 are so disposed on the cross members 7-9, respectively, that when the side rails 5 and 6 are disposed in horizontal uniplanar position, with the cross members 7-9 disposed in the aforementioned erected position, the legs 30-32 project downwardly from the cross members 7-9 vertically below the side rail 5 in supporting position relative thereto. The leg 30 has enlarged head portion 33 and a reduced shank portion 34, the shank portion being offset to one side of the head portion 33 to thereby afford a notch in the leg 30, FIG. 3. Similarly, the leg 31 has an enlarged head portion 36 and a reduced shank portion 37, with the shank portion 37 offset relative to the head portion 36 to afford a notch 38. The head portions 33 and 36 are secured to the cross members 7 and 8 in juxtaposition thereto, and the shank portions 34 and 37 are ofiset on the head portions 33 and 36 in opposite directions. The cross members 7 and 8 are so disposed relative to each other, that when the cross member 7 and 8 are disposed in the aforementionedcollapsed position, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, the legs 30 and 31 are disposed in uniplanar relation to each other with the shanks 34 and 37 disposed in the notches 35 and 38, respectively, the hinges 11-14 being so disposed on the side rails 5 and 6 that the cross members 7 and 8 and, therefore, the legs 30 :and 31 pivot toward each other during movement thereof from the fully erected position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4 to the fully collapsed position shown in broken lines therein. The cross members 7 and 9 are disposed on opposite end portions of the side rails 5 and 6 with the cross member 8 disposed therebetween. The hinges 15 and 16, by which the cross member 9 is connected to the side rails 5 and 6, are so disposed on the side rails 5 and 6 that the cross member 9 and, therefore, the leg 32 swings toward the cross member 8 in moving from fully erected position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 4, to fully collapsed position, as shown in broken lines therein. The cross members 7 and 9 and the legs 30-32 are so constituted and arranged on the side rails 5 and 6 that when they are disposed in fully collapsed position, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, they are disposed in substantially uniplanar relation to each other, with the plane thereof disposed in parallel relation to the common plane of the side rails 5 and 6.

Folding braces 39, of well known construction, and which'are readily available on the market, are secured to the side rail 5 and respective ones of the legs 39-32 in fully erected position when the braces 39 are disposed in fully extended position. The braces 39 may be manually collapsed in the well-known manner to permit the legs 30-32 to be swung from fully collapsed position.

The supporting portion 3 is identical in construction to the supporting portion 2, and parts thereof which are the sarne'as parts of the supporting portion 2 are indicated in the drawings hereof by the same reference numerals with the suffix a added thereto.

In the folding bed 1, the side rail 6 of the supporting portion 2 is disposed in closely adjacent, parallel relation to the side rail 5a of the supporting portion 3 and is pivoterected position into fully ally secured thereto by suitable means such as hinges 40, FIGS. 1 and 2. The side rail 6a of the person-supporting portion 3 is pivotally attached by suitable means such as hinges 41 to a suitable upright supporting member 42, such as, for example, the side wall of a bedroom in which the bed is used, FIG. 2. The hinges 41 are preferably disposed on the side rail 6a and on the supporting member 43 in such position that when the cross members 7a-9a and the legs 3iia-32a of the body-supporting portion 3 of the bed 1 is disposed in the aforementioned fully collapsed position, the person-supporting portion 3 of the bed 1 may be suspended from the hinges 41, with the cross members 7a-9a and the legs 39a-32a disposed immediately adjacent the supporting member 42 in substantially parallel juxtaposition thereto, and with the side rails 5a and 6a disposed outwardly therefrom with the side rail 5a disposed substantially vertically below the side rail 6a, as shown in FIG. 7.

The hinges 40 are disposed in such position on the side rails 6 and 5a that when the bed 1 is disposed in the fully collapsed position shown in FIG. 7, the side rail-s 5 and 6 are disposed in substantially immediately adjacent parallel relation to the side rails 6a and 5a, respectively, with the side rail 6 disposed vertically below the side rail 5, and with the cross members 7-9 and the legs 39-32 disposed on the opposite side of the side rails 5 and 6 from the side rails 5a and 6a. Suitable releasable fastening members, such as hooks 43 and eyes 44 may be secured to the hinges 41 and the side rail 5, respectively, for releasably holding the bed 1 in the aforementioned fully collapsed position on the supporting member 42. I

In the operation of my novel folding bed 1, when it 1s desired to move the bed 1 from the fully collapsed position shown in FIG. 7 to the fully erected position shown in FIG. 2, the hooks 43 may be released from the eyes 44, and the person-supporting portions 2 and 3 may then be swung upwardly, as a unit, around the hinges 41, into the fully raised position shown in FIG. 5. Thereafter,- the legs 3941-3211 and the cross members 7a-9a may beswung downwardly into the aforementioned projecting position as shown in FIG. 5. In this position of the bed 1, the frame 4a, with the fully collapsed person-supporting portion 2 disposed thereon, is supported by the hinges 41 and the legs Twila-32a. Thereafter, the person-supporting portion 2 may be swung on the hinges 40 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, from the position shown in FIG. 5 into position to dispose the frame 4a, as shown in FIG. 3, the operator at this time swinging the legs 30-32 and the cross member 7-9 into the fully projecting position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this position of the person-supporting portion 2, one side of the frame 4 is supported by the hinges 4t) and the other side is supported by the legs 39-32.

When the bed 1 is disposed in such fully extended position, the person-supporting portions 2 and 3 are disposed in horizontally extending, side-by-side relation to each other in position to afford a double bed, the flexible supporting members 27 and 27a affording horizontally extending sleeping surfaces on each of which a person may lie.

The concavities 10 and 19a in the cross members 7-9 and 7a-9a, respectively, are of such depth that sufiicient clearance is afforded between the supporting members 27 and 27a and the cross members 7-9 and 7a-9a, respectively, that when people lie upon the flexible supporting members 27 and 27a, they are supported by the supporting members 27 and 27a above the cross members 7-9 and 7a-9a, respectively, in upwardly spaced relation thereto. Also, it will be noted that with the ends of the side rails 5, 6, 5a and 6a tapered in the manner shown in FIG. 4, the flexible supporting members 27 and 27a are disposed in upwardly sloping position at each end of the frames 4 and 4a, respectively, to thereby afford a pillow effect at each end of the supporting portions 2 and 3 so that the head of a person lying in either direction, on either one of the supporting portions 2 or 3 is comfortably supported in slightly raised position thereon.

When it is desired to move the bed 1 from a fully erected position shown in FIGS. 1-4 to the fully collapsed position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the legs 30-32 and the cross members 7-9 may be first disposedin fully collapsed position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, and the body-supporting portion may be then swung on its hinges 40 into the position shown in FIG. 5. The legs Sim-32a and the cross member 7-9a may be then swung into fully collapsed position, and the person-supporting portions 2 and 3 may be swung as a unit on the hinges 41 into the fully collapsed position shown in FIG. 7. The hooks 43 may then be connected into the eyes 44 to hold the bed 1 in such collapsed position.

The side rails 5, 6, 5a, and 6a are preferably of such thickness that bed rolls or bedding used on top of the flexible supporting members 27 and 27a, when the bed 1 is being used for sleeping purposes, will fit within the collapsed bed 1, between the supporting members 27 and 27a, as shown in FIG. 7. With this construction, the bed 1, when in collapsed position affords a practical storage compartment for bed rolls, bedding, and the like.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel bed which is particularly well adapted for use in small bedrooms, camping trailers, and the like, wherein it is desirable to dispose the bed out of way at such times as it is not needed for sleeping purposes.

Also, it'will be seen that the present invention affords a novel bed wherein the parts are so constituted and arranged that they afford comfortable sleeping accommodations when in erected position, and afford practical and efiicient storage accommodations for bedding, and the like, when in collapsed position.

In addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel folding bed which is sturdy in construction, and which is relatively compact in size, while still affording sleeping accommodations which are sufiiciently large to assure the comfort of the person or persons occupying the bed.

Also, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel folding bed which is practical and eflicient in construction and operation, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A folding bed comprising (a) two pairs of spaced supporting rails,

(12) flexible supporting means extending between and supported by the rails of each of said pairs of rails, and

(0) leg means including (1) elongated cross members extending between said rails of each of said pairs of rails, and

(2) elongated leg members projecting from said cross members in substantially perpendicular relation thereto,

(a') said cross members (1) having a concave longitudinal edge, and (2) being hingedly mounted on said rails for movement between (a') one position wherein said concave edge faces toward said rails, and (b') another position wherein said concave edge faces in a direction generally parallel to said rails,

(e) said leg members being movable with said cross members (1) into downwardly extending, substantially perpendicular relation to said rails when said cross members are disposed in said one position, and

(2) into substantially parallel relation to said rails when said cross members are disposed in said other position, and

(1) said rails having (1) one position wherein they are all disposed in substantially horizontal uniplanar relation to each other when said cross members are disposed in said first-mentioned one position, and

(2) another position wherein the rails in each pair of rails are spaced verticallyfrom each other and are spaced horizontally from respective rails of the other pair of said rails when said cross members are disposed in said first-mentioned other position.

2. A folding bed comprising (a) two substantially rectangular-shaped frames, (11) each of said frames comprising 1) two substantially parallel side rails extending longitudinal thereof, and

(2) elongated cross members extending between and hingedly connected to said rails for pivotal movement relative thereto,

(c) flexible sheet material extending between and secured to said rails in each of said pairs of rails (d) said sheet material being disposed between said rails and said cross members connected thereto (e) each of said cross members having a concave longitudinal side,

(f) and elongated legs mounted on and movable with said cross members, (g) each of said cross members and respective legs mounted thereon being pivotable as a unit between (1) one position wherein (a') said legs project substantially perpendicular to the common plane of the rails of said frame to which the respective legs are attached, and

(b') said concave longitudinal edges face generally toward said rails of the respective frames, and

(2) another position wherein (a') said legs are substantially parallel to said rails of said respective frames, and (b') said concave longitudinal edges face in a direction substantially parallel to the length of said rails of said respective frames. 3. A folding bed comprising (a) two substantially rectangular-shaped frames, (b) each of said frames comprising 1) two parallel side rails extending longitudinally thereon, and (2) elongated, substantially fiat panel-shaped cross members extending between said side rails, (c) flexible sheet material extending between said rails of each of said pairs of rails (d) each of said cross members (1) having a concave longitudinal edge, and (2) being hinged on said edge to rail rails of the respective frames for pivotal movement between (a') an erected position wherein said cross member projects substantially perpendicularly to said rails to which it is attached, with said edge facing toward said lastmentioned rails, and (b') a collapsed position wherein said cross member is disposed in substantially uniplanar relation to the other of said cross members hinged to the same pair of rails, with the common plane of said cross members beingdisposed substantially parallel to said last-mentioned rails, and (e) elongated legs attached to and movable with said cross members in such position that (1) when said cross members are disposed in said erected position said legs project therefrom in position to support said frames, and

(2) when said cross members are disposed in said collapsed position said legs are disposed in substantially parallel relation to said frame, with certain of said legs disposed in nested relation to each other.

4. A folding bed comprising (a) two substantially rectangular-shaped frames,

(b) each of said frames comprising (1) two parallel side rails extending longitudinally thereof, and

('2) three elongated, substantially flat panel-shaped cross members extending between said side rails,

(0) each of said cross members 7 (1) having a concave longitudinal edge, and

(2) being hinged along said edge to said rails of the respective frames for pivotal movement between (a) an erected position wherein said cross member projects substantially perpendicularly to said rails to which it is attached, with said edge facing toward said last-mentioned rails, and

(b') a collapsed position wherein said cross member is disposed in substantially uniplanar relation to the other of said cross members hinged to the same pair of rails, with the common plane of said cross members disposed substantially parallel to said last-mentioned rails,

(d) two of said cross members on each pair of rails being disposed at respective end portions of said rails, and

(e) one of said cross members on each of said pair of rails being disposed on the longitudinal center portion of said rails between said two cross members thereon,

(1) two elongated sheets of flexible material,

(g) the longitudinal edges of respective ones of said sheets extending between respective ones of said rails and said cross members hinged to said rail, and

(h) a plurality of elongated legs for supporting said frames,

(i) each of said legs being attached to and movable with a respective one of said cross members between (1) an erected position wherein it projects from said rails to which said cross member is hinged,

and

(2) a collapsed position wherein it is disposed in uniplanar relation to the other legs attached to said last-mentioned rails,

(j) two of said legs on each of said frames being disposed in nested relation to each other when in said collapsed position, and

(k) the other of said legs on each of said frames being disposed in generally longitudinal alignment with said two legs on said frame when in said collapsed position.

5. In a structure having an upright supporting member,

(a) two substantially rectangular-shaped frames,

([1) each of said frames including two substantially parallel spaced side rails,

(c) hinge means attaching one of said rails of one of said frames to said supporting member for support thereby,

(d) other hinge means attaching the other of said rails of said one frame to one of said rails of the other of said frames,

(2) each of said rails having two oppositely disposed faces,

(1) said frames being pivotable on said hinge means between (1) one position wherein one of said two faces of all of said rails face upwardly in uniplanar relation to each other, and

(2) another position wherein (a) said one face of said rails of said one frame face horizontally outwardly from said supporting member, and

(b') said one face of each of said rails of said other frame is disposed in closely adjacent, directly facing relation to said one face of a respective one of said rails of said one frame,

(g) flexible supporting means extending between the other of said faces on each of said frames, and

(h) leg means pivotally attached to said frames for supporting the latter in said one position,

(i) said leg means being pivotable into closely adjacent, substantially parallel relation to said frames.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 and in which said other face of each of said rails slopes toward said one face thereof at least at one end of each of said frames to thereby slope said flexible supporting means toward said one face of said rails at least at one end of each of said frames.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,550 12/78 Murray et a1 5-l16 366,311 7/87 Farrar 5-202 X 517,102 3/94 Hall 5--202 X 1,459,972 6/23 Clauson et al 5-202 X 1,757,068 5/30 Wikman et al. 5-202 X 1,815,495 7/31 Chittim 5-8 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,164,848 January 12, 1965 David H. Melbye It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should readascorrected below.

Column 2, lines 16 and 17, for "position". read positions column 6, line 52, for "thereon" read thereof Signed and sealed this E 29th day of June 1965a (SEAL) Atlest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER v EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

5. IN A STRUCTURE HAVING AN UPRIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBER, (A) TWO SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR-SHAPED FRAMES, (B) EACH OF SAID FRAMES INCLUDING TWO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED SIDE RAILS, (C) HINGE MEANS ATTACHING ONE OF SAID RAILS OF ONE OF SAID FRAMES TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR SUPPORT THEREBY, (D) OTHER HINGE MEANS ATTACHING THE OTHER OF SAID RAILS OF SAID ONE FRAME TO ONE OF SAID RAILS OF THE OTHER OF SAID FRAMES, (E) EACH OF SAID RAILS HAVING TWO OPPOSITELY DISPOSED FACES, (F) SAID FRAMES BEING PIVOTABLE ON SAID HINGE MEANS BETWEEN (1) ONE POSITION WHEREIN ONE OF SAID TWO FACES OF ALL OF SAID RAILS FACE UPWARDLY IN UNIPLANAR RELATION TO EACH OTHER, AND (2) ANOTHER POSITION WHEREIN (A'') SAID ONE FACE OF SAID RAILS OF SAID ONE FRAME FACE HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, AND (B'') SAID ONE FACE OF EACH OF SAID RAILS OF SAID OTHER FRAME IS DISPOSED IN CLOSELY ADJACENT DIRECTLY FACING RELATION TO SAID ONE FACE OF A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID RAILS OF SAID ONE FRAME, (G) FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE OTHER OF SAID FACE ON EACH OF SAID FRAMES, AND (H) LEG MEANS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID FRAMES FOR SUPPORTING THE LATTER IN SAID ONE POSITION, (I) SAID LEG MEANS BEING PIVOTABLE INTO CLOSELY ADJACENT, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID FRAMES. 